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Monday, February 28, 2011

New Dress, New 'Do

Bangs! I have them. I went to get a simple trim on Friday, and walked out all Bettie Page-ified. The stylist suggested it and I was ready for a change, I guess. I feel pretty sassy and Jeff says I look 24 again. (Ha!)

Hey, I also finished a dress that I've been working on bit by bit for a couple months now. I drafted this pattern myself (by draping the bodice and making a simple rectangle for the skirt pieces), and am really happy with the fit. The fabric is a striped cotton faille from B&J. I bought it last year after seeing Sweeney Todd. (By the Sea, anyone? I loved those Victorian Nautical stripes!)

I got the stripes to form a sort of double chevron in the front bodice by pivoting the darts to the center front seam, under the bust. The hem has a little extra poof, thanks to some 1" horsehair braid.

I just kind of let the stripes on the back waist darts do what they wanted to do.

The belt is one of my favorite accessories: a simple fabric sash with a rosette and d-ring closure from Anthropologie. Pink suede pumps.

This get-up is pretty spring-y. I didn't really do much fall/winter sewing this year, I've realized. And lately I'm definitely into spring dresses. They're easy enough to wear now with black tights and a colorful cardi.

My new hairdo has given me a new relationship with the humble ponytail. It's such a blah look on me without bangs. I love it now!

A couple Henry shots. Doesn't he look like a little grey teddy bear in this one?

You look great with the bangs! They do make a ponytail so easy. Even though I've grown my longer to style differently for the first time in eons, I still feel I have to have them somewhat around my face in order to not look completely blah with a ponytail, too.

The bangs look so cute and the dress, wow... Can you give us a tutorial or slightly more detailed description of what you did in front? I absolutely love it! I tried making a chevrony dress but the stripes were too big and I hated the result. This however is fabulous and the front detail is so pretty.

Sweeney Todd is one of my all-time favourite films. I still listen to the soundtrack regularly and get the goosebumps every time.

WOW! I love your bangs and the dress is absolutely stunning!! Seriously, that is a pattern that would definitely have widespread appeal! I'm so far from being able to work with stripes/patterns that effectively, but this is awesome inspiration.

I've always been a fan of setting stripes on the bias to make a chevron and your work proves that my bias (so to speak) is well founded. You look great. And you're right, the fit is spot on! Good work!

I love the bangs and the dress! You look great! I would love more info on the dress! Did you stay the seams on the bias cut bodice? I wanted to make a full chevron-y striped dress and am really curious about working on the bias. Any tips would be great!

Love the stripes and the Colleen Atwood inspiration. I can't tell you how many times I've used pics of her work for inspiration. I had to look her up again last night whilst watching the Oscars and found a neat interview with her, in which she says not to be afraid of teaching yourself how to sew, because the process of screwing up can be invaluable: http://www.threadbanger.com/threadheads/episode/THR_20071221/sweeney-todd-interview-with-colleen-atwood-victorian-clothing-how-to-thread-heads

That dress is amazing - a good reason to drape a bodice. Now, I have a little problem. I got a haircut on Friday and I wound up with the same bangs, only mine were not intentional! I think my hairdresser & I got too involved in our conversation to pay attention to the hair-do... oops.Your new hair-do, on the other hand is fabulous!!

Gertie, those bangs are terrif, and so is that impressive dress! Your kitty is a doll. Y'all are just stylin' all over the place. ;)

BTW, I am one of the sad little stragglers on the Sew-Along, BUT a little nosing about the magical interwebs today proved VERY helpful. The bodice back that's been giving me so much trouble ("Why are there slanted horizontal wrinkles? It's decidedly NOT too big...!") is due to my semi-severe scoliosis. I never realized it would make such an obvious appearance in a wrap dress, but then, since it isn't so structured as, say, a shirtdress, yes, it WOULD be annoyingly apparent. A few sites have very helpful information, so off I go (muslin version, um, seven?).

Anyhow. One of these weeks it will be done. Since all of your posts & comments about it have been so helpful, I felt that I had to point out that beautiful green and white lawn is not going to be draped over my chair for all time.

So weird, I always thought of you as having a fringe (bangs) anyway! I suppose that shows how much it suits you. Fabulous, I wish I could try a fringe again but don't have enough hair to spare on it. Haven't seen Sweeny Todd (well, not that version) but I'll have to check it out!... and Henry is a very handsome teddy bear! My cat looks like a little bear sometimes too, but a grumpy one...see? http://stylewilderness.blogspot.com/2011/02/and-winner-is.html

Wow! Va-va-Voom! The striped dress looks terrific on you. I get the Victorian reference, but when I first saw I had a flashback to my old Barbie who wore a chevron striped bathing suit. This is a compliment! At any rate, you are rocking the Betty Page bangs, seriously.

OH! You are just adorable with bangs! I have Bettie Page as my avatar on Etsy {she's wearing long gloves}. I am once again inspired by you, that dress is GORGEOUS! You grace StrangePuppys FB page! Mmmmuah!

Loving your hair do...just wondering what salon you go to? I am visiting NY for a few weeks, so might check it out, I am desperately in need of a cut for my grown out bangs.Love the dress! Your sewing and style are fab!